Episode description

From acclaimed spy novelist Paul Vidich comes a taut new thriller following the attempted exfiltration of a KGB officer from the ever-changing—and always dangerous—USSR in the mid-1980s. Shane Whaley finds out more in this interview with author Paul Vidich.

• What was Paul Vidich's inspiration for writing The Mercenary.
• What kind of reader The Mercenary appeals to? (Actioneers v Realistic)
• What drew Paul to write an espionage thriller? Moscow features heavily, we find out how Paul Vidich researched Moscow and he reveals how John Beryles the former US Ambassador to the Russian Federation 2008-12 helped him,
• Paul tells us more about the protagonist 'Garin.'
• We talk locations, settings and why the books was set in the Soviet Union of the mid-80s.
• Paul reveals that as part of his research, he read over 30 books including autobiographies of high-ranking KGB officers who successfully defected to the West. No wonder the tradecraft is so good in this!
• We learn more about some of the other characters in The Mercenary including Nataliya, Zyuganov, Petrov, Mueller, Talinov and Posner.
• 'But shed war of its glory and a soldier’s job is to kill. It’s that simple. And so, shed espionage of its popular mythology, the spy’s job is to lie, deceive, and betray trust.'
• Shane asks Is The Mercenary a nod to John le Carre and The Spy Who Came In from the cold?
• The challenges of espionage writing and what are the fun parts!
• And much more including the world-famous Spybrary Quickfire round!